Sinus Infection Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms of sinusitis may include:

• Nasal congestion not responding well to either decongestants or antihistamines
• Runny nose or postnasal drip
• Thick, yellow, or green mucus
• Cough , often worse at night
• Ear pain, pressure, or fullness
• Headache
• Fever
• Dental pain
• Facial pain or pressure that increases when you bend over or press on the area
• Facial congestion or fullness
• Bad breath
• Fatigue

Diagnosis

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. Sinusitis is diagnosed based on its symptoms and tenderness of the sinuses when pressed.

Tests may include:

• Holding a flashlight up to the sinuses to see if they are illuminated
• CT scan of the sinuses—a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of structures inside the head
• Endoscopic examination of the sinuses—threading a tiny, lighted tube into the nasal cavities to view the sinus opening
• Removing sinus fluid through a needle for testing (rare)

You have acute sinusitis when the following occur:

• History of 10 or more days of colored mucus
• Tenderness over the sinuses
• Visible mucus in the nose